Six centuries before [[Christ]], Athens emerged as a powerful political city-state against the Persians and quickly also became the home for the literary masterpieces of Sophocles, Aristophanes and Hippocrates to name a few. The demise of Athens occured during the [[Peloponnesian War]] (431-404 BC) but it continued to shine as a cultural and philosophical centre.

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Six centuries before [[Christ]], Athens emerged as a powerful political city-state against the Persians and quickly also became the home for the literary masterpieces of Sophocles, Aristophanes and Hippocrates to name a few. The demise of Athens occured during the [[Peloponnesian War]] (431-404 BC) but it continued to shine as a cultural and philosophical centre. This and other major historical events in Athens and Greece, have helped to shape the most well known personality of the Eastern Orthodox church; the Greek Orthodox church. Prior to christianity, Greek religion consisted of the worship of mythical pantheon gods and godesses, such as Athena, who supposedly lived throughout all of Greece.

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This and other major historical events in Athens and Greece, have helped to shape the most well known personality of the Eastern Orthodox church; the Greek Orthodox church. Prior to christianity, Greek religion consisted of the worship of mythical pantheon gods and godesses, such as Athena, who supposedly lived throughout all of Greece.

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The seed of Christianity was first sown in Athens when the [[Apostle Paul]] visited the Athenians in 502AD.

The seed of Christianity was first sown in Athens when the [[Apostle Paul]] visited the Athenians in 502AD.

Revision as of 01:22, January 17, 2009

Contents

History

Six centuries before Christ, Athens emerged as a powerful political city-state against the Persians and quickly also became the home for the literary masterpieces of Sophocles, Aristophanes and Hippocrates to name a few. The demise of Athens occured during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BC) but it continued to shine as a cultural and philosophical centre. This and other major historical events in Athens and Greece, have helped to shape the most well known personality of the Eastern Orthodox church; the Greek Orthodox church. Prior to christianity, Greek religion consisted of the worship of mythical pantheon gods and godesses, such as Athena, who supposedly lived throughout all of Greece.

The seed of Christianity was first sown in Athens when the Apostle Paul visited the Athenians in 502AD.

Hierarchy

The current Archbishop of Athens is His Beatitude Ieronymos II (Liapis), Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.

History

Roman Athens

Byzantine Period (Athens)

Ottoman Turks Invade Greece (Athens)

War of Independence (Athens)

World War II (Athens)

Post World War II (Athens)

Military Dictatorship (Athens)

Modern-Day Athens

Orthodox sites of pilgrimage

Metropolis Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Monastiraki

The 1862 Metropolis Cathedral dominates Mitropoleos Square, which is in the heart of Athens, Greece, and is the archiepiscopal Greek Orthodox church of Athens.

The decision to move the capital of the young Greek state to Athens in 1834 made it imperative to build a large new cathedral here. Construction started in 1839 and was completed in 1863. Since that time, this building, decorated with fine murals and icons, has been Greece's most important church, used for official occasions.

Far more significant historically and archaeologically is the small 12th century church of Panagia Gorgoepikoos ("She who is Swift to Hear"). It is known as the Little Metropolis and is a cruciform-style church built from marble and using reliefs and pieces of ancient and early Christian monuments. It is also known as the church of St. Eleutherios.

This tiny little church is often referred to as the "little Metropolis" since it is next to the Metropolis church of Athens.

Byzantine Church of Kapnikarea

Right in the middle of a pedestrian shopping strip of Ermou is the Byzantine church of Kapnikarea, which is dedicated to the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. It was completed in the 13th century, and is a cruciform-style domed church which now belongs to the Athens University.

Monastiraki

Panagia Grigoroussa, Taxiarhon and Fanouriou, Plaka

Famous for its special blessing of the Fanouropita cake every Saturday afternoon.

Church of the Holy Apostles of Solakis, Agora

One of the oldest churches in Athens, built c. 1000 AD in the ancient Agora.

Church of St. Nicholas Rangavas

This 11th century Byzantine church was part of the palace of the Rangava family, which included Michael I, Emperor of Byzantium. The church bell was the first installed in Athens after the liberation from the Turks and was first to ring in 1833 announcing the freedom of Athens from the Turkish rule. It is now rung every March 25 and is hung inside the church.

An 11th century monastery located on the slopes of Mt. Hymmetos, this monastery was devastated by a huge earthquake in 1999 which damaged the cells of the monks and the bathhouse. In its peak, this monastery had over 300 monks.